Vermin-proof building foundation



nu YJ. F ,/H, Mfr W M W Mmm um /RG N m, 5 w M m K 6 JAMES VERMIN-PROOFBUILDING FOUNDATION w J M a m w/ May 26, 1970 United States Patent3,513,586 VERMIN-PROOF BUILDING FOUNDATION George P. Meyer, 225Hawthorne Ave., Haddonfield,

NJ. 08033, and James Gushue, Memosa Lakes, Medford, NJ. 08055 Filed Oct.1, 1968, Ser. No. 764,264 Int. Cl. E04b 1/72; E04b 9/16 U.S. Cl. 43--1246 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A foundation including an uppercoarse of open blocks, laterally spaced elongate support members on saidblocks, a plate extending along and superposed on said support members,and a distribution conduit extending along and within the space betweensaid support members, blocks and plate for distributing an insecticideto the interior of the foundation.

Background of the invention While it has been proposed in the past toincorporate in a building foundation a fluid distribution system forinsecticide and the like, prior proposed constructions have requiredconsiderable departure from conventional building methods so as togreatly increase building costs, or have been incapable of thoroughlydistributing the fluid interiorly of the foundation.

Summary of the invention ing personnel Without special training inextermination techniques.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide avermin-proof building foundation of the type described which is capableof simple and effective operation by a home owner or other personnelwithout special training or skill.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon readingthe following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings,which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combination of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which thescope will be indicated by the appended claims.

Brief description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a plan view showing avermin-proof building foundation constructed in accordance with theteachings of the present invention, partly broken away for clarity ofunderstanding.

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken generally along the line 22of FIG. 1, and illustrating in phantom a wall structure on thefoundation.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top perspective view showing a portion of thefoundation of FIG. 1, and broken away to illustrate interior features ofconstruction.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring now more particularlyto the drawings, and specifically to FIG. 1 thereof, a plan view of abuilding foundation is there generally designated 10, and may be thefoundation of a domestic dwelling, or other building, as desired. Ofcourse, any configuration of foundation may be employed in conjunctionwith the instant invention.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the foundation 10 is illustrated therein andmay include a footing 11, say of poured concrete or other desiredconstruction, extending about the periphery of the foundation 10.Superposed on the footing 11 may be one or more courses of buildingblock 12. For simplicity of illustration, only a single course ofbuilding block 12 is illustrated. The building blocks 12, to define acourse, are arranged in generally horizontal end-to-end relationship, asseen in FIG. 12. Of course suitable mortar may be employed to secure thebuilding block 12 in position and seal the confronting ends thereof. Inpractice, the building block 12 may be conventional cinder block, whichis advantageously formed with a plurality of vertically extendingthrough holes 13. That is, the holes 13 open downwardly to a next lowercourse or to a footing 11 and open upwardly, through the upper surface14 of each block.

Extending longitudinally along the upper course of building blocks 12,adjacent to the outer sides 15 of each building block and resting on theupper surface 14 thereof is an elongate, outer support member 17. Theouter support member 17 may advantageously be fabricated of wood, saybeing a generally horizontally disposed wooden 2 in. x 4 in. piece. Anumber of such pieces may be disposed in end-to-end abutting relationwith each other and fixedly secured in position resting on the upperblock faces 14, as by masonry nails 18.

Preferably, the width or lateral extent of the outer support member -17is less than one-half the width or lateral extent of the course ofbuilding blocks 12, so as to terminate short of the center line of thecourse.

In addition, an elongate inner support member 19 is superposed on theupper block surfaces 14 extending along the inner block sides 20. Thesupport member 19 may be composed of one or more elongate members ofrectangular cross-section, say essentially similar to the outer supportmember 17, as of wooden 2 in. x 4 in. pieces in end-to-end relation. Theinner support member 19 may be fixed in its seated relation on the upperblock surfaces 14 by suitable fastening means, such as masonry nails 21.The Width of the inner support member 19 is also less than one-half thewidth of the course of blocks 12, so as to leave a space 22 between theinner sides of the outer and inner support members 17 and 19, extendinggenerally longitudinally along the the center line of the course ofbuilding blocks 12.

In the space 22, in spaced relation between the outer and inner supportmembers -17 and 19, there is located a conduit 25. The conduit 25 may beof any suitable construction, say of plastic tubular structure, in thenature of a hose, and is advantageously provided with a multitude ofthrough openings 26 located along the entire extent of the conduit andat various circumferential locations thereabout. Thus, the conduitopenings 26 face in a multitude of directions radially of the conduits.As will appear more fully hereinafter, the conduit 25 eifectsdistribution of a fiuid insecticide or vermin killer throughout theinterior of the foundation 10.

Extending longitudinally along the foundation .10, superposed on theupper surfaces of outer and inner support members 17 and 19, andextending in bridging relation across the intersupport member space 22is a plate 30. The plate 30 may be of elongate configuration, generallyrectangular in cross-section and having a width approximately equal tothat of the building block 12. For example, the plate member 30 may be awooden 2 in. x 10 in. piece or pieces arranged in end-toend relationdisposed horizontally on and longitudinally co-extensive with thesupport members 17 and 19, and remainder of the foundation 10. The upperplate member 30 may be suitably fixed in its superposed bridgingrelation, as by fasteners or nails 31 extending through the plate memberand into adjacent nether support members 17 and 19.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the thickness or vertical dimension of eachsupport member 17 and 19 is appreciably greater than the verticaldimension or diameter of the distribution conduit 25, so that theconduit, resting on the upper surfaces 14 of the blocks 12 is spacedbelow the under surface of the plate member 30. Further, the lateralspacing between the outer and inner support members 17 and 19 isappreciably greater than the lateral dimension or diameter of thedistribution conduit 25, so that the conduit is located in spacedrelation between the facing surfaces of the support members 17 and 19.This spaced interposition of the conduit between the support members 17and 19 and plate member insures effective distribution of vermin killingfluid to the entire interior surfaces of the support and plate members.

At one or more locations along the distribution conduit 25, there may beconnected in fluid communication therewith, an inlet conduit 33, say inthe nature of a pipe, being connected to the distribution conduit by anysuitable means, such as a T connector 34. The inlet conduit 33preferably extends laterally from the distribution conduit 25 throughthe inner support member 19 beyond the inner side of the foundation 10.If desired, a valve 35 may be connected to the inlet conduit 33, andprovided with a connection nipple 36. As shown in FIG. 3, the innersupport member 19 may be interrupted for passage therethrough of theinlet conduit 33; or if desired, the inlet conduit may extend through aclosely fitting hole formed in the inner support member.

As a permanent system in a building construction, there may be connecteda tank or reservoir 37, see FIG. 1, for containing a supply of verminkilling fluid, and a pump 38 may be connected between the reservoir 37and valve 35 for transmitting the insecticide or vermin killing fluidunder pressure to the valve 35 and throughout the distribution conduit25 for thorough disbursal throughout the interior of the foundation 10.

Of course, periodic operation as described above is suflicient to insurefreedom from vermin.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by wayof illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, itis understood that certain changes and modifications may be made withinthe Spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A vermin-proof building foundation comprising a plurality offoundation blocks arranged in horizontally disposed end-to-end relationwith their upper surfaces generally coplanar, said blocks each havingvertically extending through holes, an outer elongate wood supportmember resting on the upper surfaces of said blocks extending along theouter edge thereof, an inner elongate wood support member resting on theupper surfaces of said block extending along the inner edge thereofspaced from said outer support member, an elongate wood plate memberextending longitudinally along and resting on the upper surfaces of saidsupport members bridging the space therebetween, a distribution conduitextending longitudinally within the space between said support membersover said blocks and beneath said plate member, said distributionconduit having a plurality of outlets therealong opening toward saidblocks and members, and an inlet conduit extending from and incommunication with said distribution conduit latierally beyond one ofsaid support members for connection to a supply of vermin killing fluid,whereby the vermin killing fluid is distributed along a buildingfoundation to all internal surfaces thereof.

2. A vermin-proof building foundation according to claim 1, said inletconduit extending inwardly for termination interiorly of the buildingfoundation.

3. A vermin-proof building foundation according to claim 1, said blockscomprising cinder blocks.

4. A vermin-proof building foundation according to claim 1, said blocksand members extending peripherally about a building foundation, and saiddistribution conduit being continuous and co-extensive with said blocksand members for extension peripherally about a building foundation.

5. A vermin-proof building foundation according to claim 1, said supportmembers being of a height greater than the diameter of said distributionconduit, and said distribution conduit resting on said blocks in spacedrelation beneath said plate member.

6. A vermin-proof building foundation according to claim 5, said supportmembers being spaced apart a distance greater than the diameter of saiddistribution conduit, whereby said conduit is spaced from said supportand plate members for effective distribution of vermin killing fluid tosaid members.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,911,818 11/1959 Smith 522202,915,848 12/1959 Griffin 43-124 2,981,025 4/1961 Woodson 43-1243,209,485 10/1965 Griflin 43124 3,330,062 7/1967 Carter 43124 HENRY C.SUTHERLAND, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 52--101

